Gary Spatz’s ‘The Playground’ Cap Featured in Just Go With It Sometimes in Hollywood, Authenticity Trumps Product Placement

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Sometimes in Hollywood, Authenticity Trumps Product Placement .

Century City, CA (PRWEB)March 6, 2011

In a screwball comedy with as many twists and turns as Columbia Picture’s Just Go With It has, plot points often need visual clarity. That’s probably what the producers thought when they asked Gary Spatz’s Young Actors’ Conservatory, ‘The Playground’, to provide them with three official Playground Caps for the character of Maggie (Bailee Madison).

In the movie, Danny Maccabee (Adam Sandler) needs adolescent Maggie’s help in an outlandish deception, and in return Danny must pay for Maggie’s acting lessons at a prestigious school. “We didn’t know why the producers wanted the caps until we saw the film,” Gary said. “It was a total surprise to us.” In some key scenes, the character of Maggie wears the cap while exploring the natural wonders of Hawaii. She falls in a puddle, and the next shot is a close-up of her mud-splattered face, with The Playground Cap lying next to her. Logo caps in movies are often coveted product placement, but for Just Go With It, the producers opted for authenticity.

“So many of our students are out on casting calls, and their resumes are seen by producers and directors ” Gary said. "I think the Producer, or Director of Just Go With It associated young actors with the school, and wanted to add a certain reality to the production. So they asked us for some Playground Caps and permission to use our logo.”

The success of the film has prompted interest in The Playground, and the official caps. “We’ve received some phone calls and emails from people wanting to buy Caps because their children want them,” Gary said with a big smile. “But at this point there is no plan to sell our official Playground Caps. As far as I’m concerned, our students have to earn them.”For further information, including interviewing Gary Spatz: (contact(at)theplaygroundlosangeles(dot)com)